How I became Dad?

This happened sometime back when I was working for IT Company. (FYI I am still in the same company) My mom started looking for a bride for me. She insisted me to register in matrimony site also. That was the only option I had in my lifetime to sit with my mom and comment on girls. I would say this girl is good because she has nice hair, then mom would say “No no this girl is nice because her smile is good”. Again I will comment that this girl is nice because she has a good education background, then mom would say “This girl is nice because she has a good family background”.

We both were discussing like this all the time but we never ever finalized on a single girl. To find a girl for a typical arranged marriage is very difficult. Because all the girl’s features (education, look and feel, family etc.) should satisfy all the family members. All the family members include me of course.

One fine day our neighbor asked my mom my photograph and bio-data saying that he know his friend’s friend who is searching for a smart, handsome, intelligent guy (only in articles / blogs I can say something about myself, because no one can physically hurt me) for her daughter. So my mom gave my photograph and bio-data to him.

After few days we received her photograph and bio-data which was mailed by her father through my neighbor’s friend and then through my neighbor. When we saw her photograph we didn’t like her. The photograph looked very artificial.

The photo was taken in a studio with full make-up. And the way she was standing with that make-up reminded me of those old days’ photos taken in studios. That was too artificial and the girl didn’t impress me.

My mom said “Let me & dad go to her home, see her personally and come”. I said it’s your wish. So they scheduled a date and made a visit to her home along with my sister, maama and maami. (Please note that they went there except me).

When they met her in personal they liked her very much. She is good looking, well educated, nice family etc. The highlight feature in her for liking so much is her dimple when she smiles. So everyone insisted that I should get married to that girl. I said that you have seen her in person, but what about me? It’s me who is getting married.

Instead of suggesting that I should come along with them to see her, they suggested that they will take my Digital Camera with them and take a photograph of her and bring it for me. The option suggested by mom sounded fantastic for everyone except me.

Anyway I could see her in photograph her at least. Thanks to this century and the latest technology. At least I don’t have to wait for a day or two also for the photo film to develop. So when they came back from her home (Please note again that they went there except me), they showed me her photograph. Yes she created an impression in me this time.

In spite of reading my face, after I saw her photo, they were eager to listen the word “OK” from me. So they started discussing between each other about the girl in my presence. So that I could listen about her, start liking her and say OK finally. Anyway their plan worked out and I said OK the next day as my mom asked me again.

The day to engagement was fixed immediately and the preparations were going on in full speed. Now during a discussion with her parents someone asked a simple question which was a big shock for me. The question was “Is the groom coming for the engagement?” I asked myself “What? What a stupid question was that? Engagement without me?” Immediately one of my relative said “Yes in our family side we don’t take the groom to the engagement venue” Another answer came from her side “In our family side we do take the groom to the venue” The answer was a big relief for me. Don’t know why and how, but all my relatives said OK for this.

The day to the engagement came. As I entered the venue I could see her sitting on the stage with the cloth completely covered and she was totally bent down. My relatives standing next to me pointed towards to her and said “See there is the bride”. I asked myself again “What am I supposed to see?” But the dress she was wearing was too pretty. May be I liked the dress because I am going to marry her or at least I have an option to like something in her. Why not the dress first?

In an hour after I entered the engagement ceremony was over. (This is the ceremony as per my religion where the girl and boy can’t see now also) Her cousin came to the stage and he put a garland on me and he gave me the ring. Similarly my mom did the same for her. Everyone had their dinner and the date for the wedding was fixed. It was almost 7 months from the date of engagement.

Next thing to give me a shock without the help of Electricity is that I am not supposed to talk to her in these 7 months. I knew about my religion and its rules. But being in 20th century and working in an IT company I couldn’t digest this truth. So I had dysentery... sorry discussion with my parents on this. But they never said OK for it.

Days rolled on very fast and the date of my wedding came. Even now I am not allowed to see her. But the feeling in me was “I am very very very much excited to see her soon “. The wedding ceremony got over in an hour. After the ceremony I am supposed to go to her stage and put a gold necklace on her neck and say some mantras. Even now I am not allowed to see her as she is totally bent down and she is not looking at me.

Anyway with the relief that the wedding is over and I have to wait for few hours to see her I went away. Later in the evening there was a ceremony where we each other have to see our face in a mirror. Don’t imagine that the mirror is very big. It’s just a small mirror which is almost covered with the hands of the person who is holding the mirror. Anyway I saw her face partially. Later after that ceremony we came home.

Now answering to the question how I became Dad is a mix of Physics, Chemistry and Biology which 99% of the readers know. Yes I became a Dad now...